THE EX | Caroline was dealt a big blow with “her first real big break-up,” says Accola. “Tyler was her first true, true love, so she’s heartbroken. But she’s strong and she’s trying to put on a happy face.” At the start of the season, the normally peppy vampire “wasn’t as spontaneous as we’ve seen her in the past, and she wasn’t as bright and as bubbly, so she’s trying to find that in herself again” throughout upcoming episodes. Getting to a good place is difficult, however, because this split “does seem very final for Caroline and Tyler,” notes Accola, adding that all the gal “really wanted, and what I think she still wants, is to be with” her ex. “Caroline and Tyler’s relationship has been the one thing that [she] can’t control,” explains the actress. “Since she’s become a vampire, she’s able to control her thirst for blood very easily… It seems like this is the one part of her life where she can’t get any control, and it’s the only part where she wants to. This is the beginning of her not necessarily spiraling, but searching and not being as strong and confident as we’ve seen her in the past.”

As for what the dynamic will be like when Tyler surfaces, “It’s anybody’s guess,” admits Trevino. “After any break-up, how’s it going to be when you run into your ex? It’s always awkward, right? And the fact that Mystic Falls isn’t a big city, they’re going to be around each other. So time will tell.” And will Tyler regret his decision to leave Caroline in order to seek out revenge in New Orleans? “I don’t know how to answer that without giving something away,” hedges Trevino.

THE NEW HOTTIE | A gal’s got to move on eventually, so while Tyler is MIA, Caroline may cozy up to a handsome upperclassman. “We’re going to see Caroline go through what a girl goes through when she’s broken up with by the love of her life,” previews Accola. That grief process includes “whether or not there are other cute boys at college that catch her eye [and] her trying to figure out what she really wants.” Enter Jesse, who after sharing a couple sweet moments with the freshman is now in the process of being turned into a vampire. (Talk about a new relationship obstacle!) Last we saw, “he’s obviously a bit tied up, but Caroline will start to worry about where he is,” teases Accola.

THE DOWN-THE-ROAD GUY | Did you sense some romantic potential between Caroline and a certain amnesiac Salvatore brother? If so, you’re not alone. “The writers really like to tease [Stefan and Caroline],” notes Wesley. “They always have that there, but they don’t quite do anything with it. I’m always a little confused. I don’t know if we’re going for it or not, so when I do scenes with Caroline, I’m always like, ‘Am I supposed to be playing this platonic, here?’” As for what the future holds, “I would imagine that they’re going to go into that direction because they keep hinting at that,” adds the actor.

His costar, however, has a different point of view when it comes to the pals. “Even though, maybe from an audience perspective, there’s some great, very easy moments with them together [that] could be looked [at] as ‘chemistry,’ I don’t think that the characters in their world see it as that,” explains Accola. “To Caroline, Stefan is just a friend and a companion — and Elena’s one true love. She wants Elena and Stefan to be together.”